Three tries from No.8 Matt Parker helped steer Hornets through to the final of the Webb Ellis Somerset County Cup, where they will face either Clevedon or the University of Bath, as they out-scored Bridgwater & Albion eight tries to three.

It was a hard-fought game, with several injuries, on the bitterly cold afternoon at Weston-super-Mare RFC with the sides evenly matches in the opening stages before Hornets pulled away though they left some tries out there.

Adam Francis crossed for the Hornets opening try before Albion's Dan Kemish had to leave the field with a suspected dislocated elbow. But that didn't distract his teammates with full back Will Munro's try being converted by Kyran Devitt.

Matt Denton's try, converted by Jordan Humphries, nudged Hornets back in front only for Albion to reply through a Devitt penalty. But then Hornets pulled away with Parker's first, converted by Humphries, and a second from Francis to go into the break 24-10 ahead.

Hornets increased their lead with a Charlie Carter try and Parker's second, which Carter converted, but Albion kept battling away and Lewis Plece's touchdown was converted by Devitt to take the deficit to 36-17.

Parker completed his hat-trick, Carter converted, before player-coach Steve Pape crossed for Hornets' last try. But Albion tried to keep themselves in the game with second row Ethan Trebble-Westlake getting the final touchdown.

The Somerset County Rugby Football Union President Andy Shorney presented Weston-super-Mare skipper Sam Coles with the Webb-Ellis Somerset County Cup after a thrilling match played on the new RFU Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Hornets RFC.

This was the eleventh time that Weston had claimed the Cup in the 17 appearances in the final and in a season where they have already gained promotion having been crowned the champions of Tribute South West One West.

Clevedon lifted the Cup in the 2000/01 season when they beat Bridgwater & Albion and have also appeared in two other finals against their local rivals but couldn’t make it third time lucky as Weston pulled away in the final quarter. Clevedon finished as runners-up to Weston in the league and they will now face the South West 1 East runners-up in the promotion play-off – we wish them well in that match – probably against Newbury Blues.

Weston went into the break with a slender 13-12 advantage after ‘Man of the Match’ Dan Lomax had kicked two penalties and the conversion of prop Ollie Streeter’s try. Clevedon, who had taken the lead, had replied through four penalties from the boot of fly-half Kieran Hill. Lomax added a third penalty after the restart before Clevedon regained the lead as Hill converted prop Brian Largenton’s try.

Lomax added a penalty to level the score and then added the extras after referee Mason Davies had awarded Weston a penalty try. Wing Matt Watkins crossed for Weston’s third try, again converted by Lomax.

This was the first of an initial three season where the Cup, the Vase and the new Women’s Cup have been sponsored by Webb Ellis Limited and Lawrence Webb, their managing director, was a welcome guest at the game.

Hornetslifted the Somerset County RFU Cup for the second time of their fourth appearance in the final with a 30-14 victory over Wells. A hard fought contest was played out in front of more than 500 supporters at Bridgwater & Albion's College Way ground.

Early in the game, Charlie Carter made a break down the right from the half way before the full back off-loaded to second row Ross Cheeseborough who dived over the whitewash for the opening try. Two penalties in a five minutes spell from fly-half Aaron Cook gave Wells a 6-5 lead before Hornets lost first loosehead prop Alec Chase and then hooker and skipper Chris Francis to injury. Cook added a third penalty midway through the half but it was Hornets who went in at half time 15-9 ahead.

In the second half, Connor Littlewood made the break and exchanged passes with centre Matt Cornish for the scrum half to score under the posts with wing Jermaine Jones adding the extras. Carter crossed for tries either side of a Jones penalty for a 25-9 lead. Just after the hour mark Hornets flanker Joe Smith was yellow carded by referee Brian Perry. Wells, in their first ever Somerset Cup final, were unable to capitalise on the extra man as they tested the Wells defence.

Hornets were restored to full strength but Wells reduced the arrears with a close range try form full back Jon Branch only for replacement Ramaz Rukhadze to cross the line for Hornets final try.

Somerset RFU president Des Chalmers presented the three Somerset Referees' Society with their medals before handing a medal to the runner-sup squad. Wells skipper Jake Knight was presented with the runners-up trophy before Hornets players were given their winners medals. The president then presented second row Phil Hogarth with the Man of the Match award and then the Somerset County RFU Cup as captain Francis had been taken to hospital with Sturnham problems.

Somerset County RFU would like to thank Somerset Referees' Society for providing the match officials and to Bridgwater & Albion RFC for hosting the game.

Photographs of Somerset County RFU Cup winners Hornets courtesy of Jason Bryant - click an image for a full size version